Summary (tl;dr)

An 86-year-old French woman, Marie-Thérèse, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana after overstaying her visa, following the death of her American husband and amidst a family inheritance dispute.

Essential Background

Marie-Thérèse, originally from Nantes, France, rekindled a romance with her long-lost American love, Billy, whom she had first met in the 1960s. They married in 2025, and she subsequently moved to Alabama, initiating an application for a green card to gain permanent residency in the U.S. However, her husband Billy died suddenly in January 2026, which left her immigration status in an uncertain state.

The Full Story

Marie-Thérèse was arrested by ICE in Anniston, Alabama, in early April 2026, and was subsequently transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Her family reported that she was handcuffed and treated "like a dangerous criminal," despite her advanced age. While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated she had overstayed her 90-day visa, her son maintains that she was actively in the process of applying for a green card. The arrest occurred just a day before a scheduled court hearing related to an inheritance dispute between Marie-Thérèse and her late husband's son.

Why It Matters

The detention of an 86-year-old woman with reported heart and back problems has ignited significant humanitarian concerns and widespread outrage. Her family and French consular officials are urgently appealing for her release and repatriation to France, expressing grave fears for her health given the conditions of detention. This case has brought to light broader issues regarding immigration enforcement practices, especially concerning vulnerable elderly individuals, and has prompted diplomatic involvement from the French foreign ministry.

Geographic Location

• Nantes, France (Marie-Thérèse's city of origin)
• Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama, United States (location of arrest)
• Louisiana, United States (location of ICE detention facility)